Indiana Department of Environmental Management
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This dataset contains monthly water quality sampling locations. Specific parameters vary by site and are as listed in the Indiana Water Monitoring Inventory. Water quality data are stored in the Office of Water Quality's Assessment Branch AIMS Database. The objective of this program is to provide basic information that will reveal water quality trends and provide data for the many existing and prospective users of surface water in Indiana. The program was developed to determine chemical, physical, and bacteriological characteristics of Indiana water under changing conditions. Currently, water quality data are collected monthly from 163 sites on various rivers and streams. Although the number and location of some of these stations have changed over time, a number of the stations have been continuously monitored since 1957. The information has been used in determining background data for certain types of pollutants, such as chlorides and phosphorous. The information also assists in the development of wasteload allocations and NPDES permits for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants and for other municipal, industrial, agricultural, and recreational uses. Additionally, the information is collected for future pollution abatement activities such as the review of non-point source effects; and in procuring data useful and necessary for securing public action toward the preservation of streams for all beneficial uses. Website: http://www.in.gov/idem/4677.htm |
Fish Community Sampling ProgramThis dataset contains fish community locations sampled once or twice for specific projects. Information gathered at the site includes in-situ water chemistry parameters, species list with counts, minimum and maximum lengths (mm), total weight (g), anomalies, and a habitat evaluation. Fish community data are stored in the Office of Water Quality's Assessment Branch AIMS Database. The objective of the fish community sampling program is to assess water quality using resident fish assemblage data as a tool to monitor the biological integrity of a stream. There are many advantages of using fish for monitoring biological integrity of a stream: a life span of greater than three years allows detection of degradation that has occurred over an extended period of time, extensive life history, feeding and reproductive behavior of many species are well known, the identification of many species can be made in the field without extensive laboratory processing, and the public is more familiar and knowledgeable with fish. Indiana narrative biological criteria [327 IAC 2-1-3(2)] states that “all waters, except those designated as limited use, will be capable of supporting a well-balanced, warm water aquatic community.” The water quality standard definition of a “well-balanced aquatic community” is “an aquatic community which is diverse in species composition, contains several different trophic levels, and is not composed mainly of strictly pollution tolerant species” [327 IAC 2-1-9(49)]. A stream segment is non-supporting for Aquatic Life Use (ALUS) when the monitored fish community receives an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score of less than 35 which is considered “Poor” or “Very Poor.” For those segments listed as non-supporting due to poor fish assemblage structure, a Biological Assemblage Stressor Identification Project will be needed to identify the cause and source of the impairment. The Biological Assemblage Stressor Identification Program determines the cause and source of the biological impairments using methods developed by Morris et al. (2006). Application of an intensive targeted watershed design provides a unified physical, chemical, and biological dataset that can be used in making scientifically valid and informed watershed management decisions. These studies target specific watersheds that are listed as non-supporting for Aquatic Life Use on Indiana's 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies or identified by IDEM's Non-point Source Program or Probabilistic Monitoring Program as watersheds needing further data collection. Website: http://www.in.gov/idem/4681.htm Macroinvertebrate Community Sampling ProgramThis dataset contains macroinvertebrate community locations sampled once or multiple times for specific assessment projects. Information gathered at the site includes in-situ water chemistry parameters, taxon list with counts, and habitat evaluations. Macroinvertebrate community data are stored in the Office of Water Quality's Assessment Branch Assessment Information Management System (AIMS). The objective of the macroinvertebrate community sampling program is to assess water quality using the macroinvertebrate assemblage data as a tool to monitor the biological integrity (Compositional, Structural and Funtional) of a river or stream. There are many advantages of using macroinvertebrates for monitoring the biological integrity: the larger number of species exhibit a range of responses to environmental stress, and their sedentary nature permits determination of the spatial extent of perturbations. The Indiana narrative biological criterion [327 IAC 2-1-3(2)] states that “all waters, except those designated as limited use, will be capable of supporting a well-balanced, warm water aquatic community.” The water quality standards definition of a “well-balanced aquatic community” is “an aquatic community which is diverse in species composition, contains several different trophic levels, and is not composed mainly of strictly pollution tolerant species” [327 IAC 2-1-9(49)]. A species level resolution macroinvertebrate Index of Biological Integrity (mIBI) is currently under development using a multi-habitat sampling approach. Website: http://www.in.gov/idem/4681.htm Fish Tissue Contaminant Monitoring ProgramThis dataset contains fish tissue contaminant locations on lakes, rivers, streams, and reservoirs that are sampled on the 5 year basin rotation schedule for the entire State. Information gathered at the site includes chemical contaminant levels in fish flesh. Fish tissue contaminant data are stored in the Office of Water Quality's Assessment Branch AIMS Database. The objective of the fish tissue contaminant monitoring program is to identify and provide information on chemical contaminants that may be accumulating in the tissues of fish. This type of monitoring helps to locate sources of contaminants whose concentrations in other environmental media (such as water) are often too low to be easily found with routine sampling and laboratory procedures. The fish tissue contaminant monitoring program provides the majority of data used for Indiana’s Fish Consumption Advisories (FCA) for the protection of consumers of sport caught fish. In addition this information can be used for wildlife health risk assessments for fish-eating birds and mammals; and to provide information needed to develop models to assess changes in Indiana waters that affect aquatic life and human health. NOTE: Data quality information is not available for data collected prior to 1987. Website: http://www.in.gov/idem/4681.htm |
For more information or to obtain the actual data, please contact:Indiana Department of Environmental Management NOTE: Individuals who are looking for actual data should specifically state they are interested in information stored in the Office of Water Quality Assessment Branch AIMS Database. |